A Touch of Shadow: Challenge #4

Challenge Summary: The PC mediates a dispute between a local farmer and an elven ranger.

Introducing The Challenge: After the PC has defeated the hawk, Joel takes him to the farm that was attacked by the wolf. On his arrival, he find the farmer, Kail Greenbough, arguing with an elf ranger, Rumil Amanth, while Kail's dog Blackie and Rumil's animal companion Faerwyn growl at each other. Joel will ask what has happened if the PC does not do so. Kail will say that Rumil's wolf killed one of his lambs, but he has refused to either compensate him for his loss or stay to work off his debt. Rumil will counter that he is prepared to compensate Kail, but he has no money on him at the moment and cannot stay to work because he is on his way to attend a meeting. He offers to return to repay Kail at a later date. However, Kail refuses to allow Rumil to leave before he pays him. Since the two of them have reached an impasse, Joel will propose that the PC mediate the dispute as a neutral third party.

Running the Challenge: This challenge may be run as a skill challenge, or the player may use his own ability to work out a solution.

What Kail Wants

Kail's primary objective is to be compensated at least 1 gp, or the equivalent in goods or services, for his lamb. His secondary objective is to ensure that Rumil pays for the lamb in some manner before he leaves the village. He will automatically accept any solution that allows him to meet both his objectives (no skill check required).

What Rumil Wants

Rumil is on his way to attend a meeting with his fellow rangers that he does not want to be late for. His primary objective is to leave the village by the next morning at the latest. His secondary objective is to pay for the lamb through his own efforts, though not necessarily immediately. He will automatically accept any solution that allows him to meet both his objectives (no skill check required).

If the PC proposes a solution that does not meet an NPC's primary or secondary objectives, he must succeed at two skill checks with that NPC to persuade him to accept it. In most cases, the DC of the skill check will depend on how well the proposed solution meets the NPC's primary and secondary objectives. The PC may make use of the following skills during this challenge:

Bluff: This skill will come into play if the PC attempts to fool an NPC into believing that his primary or secondary objectives will be met. A failed Bluff check imposes a -2 penalty on subsequent Bluff and Diplomacy checks with the same NPC.

Diplomacy: This skill will come into play if the PC simply attempts to persuade an NPC to accept his solution. The PC will need to succeed at a DC 16 skill check if the proposed solution meets the NPC's primary objective but not his secondary objective, or a DC 20 skill check if the proposed solution does not even meet his primary objective.

Insight: This skill will come into play if the PC attempts to figure out what an NPC wants. If he succeeds on a DC 12 Insight check, he discovers the NPC's primary objective and gains a +2 bonus to his next Bluff, Diplomacy or Intimidate check with that NPC. If he succeeds on a DC 16 Insight check, he also discovers the NPC's secondary objective and gains a +2 bonus to all subsequent Bluff, Diplomacy or Intimidate checks with that NPC. If he succeeds on a DC 20 Insight check, it also counts as a success with that NPC. Bonuses from successful Insight checks do not stack.

Intimidate: This skill will come into play if the PC attempts to threaten an NPC into accepting his solution. The PC will need to succeed at a DC 16 skill check if the proposed solution meets the NPC's primary objective but not his secondary objective, or a DC 20 skill check if the proposed solution does not even meet his primary objective. A failed Intimidate check imposes a -2 penalty on subsequent Diplomacy and Intimidate checks with the same NPC.

The PC may propose as many solutions as he wants, but once he has failed three skill checks, both the NPCs lose patience. Rumil turns to leave, and Kail orders Blackie to attack Faerwyn while he fights Rumil. If the PC does not interfere, Rumil and Faerwyn will defeat Kail and Blackie and leave. If the PC decides to fight one or the other, run the fight normally. When the fight is over, Joel will try to stabilize the dying and tend to the injured. The defeated party (if he survives) agrees to the other NPC's demands.

Award the PC 100 XP if he is able to get Kail and Rumil to agree to his proposed solution. Otherwise, award him 25 XP for each success that he earned. One solution that both NPCs would agree to automatically would be for Rumil to help the PC guard Kail's sheep and defeat the black wolf. If Rumil fights alongside the PC in Challenge #5, the DM may use a tougher monster in order to make the fight more interesting.